The 2011 First Financial Bank All Johnson County volleyball team has been announced and Burleson, fresh off its deepest playoff run in school history, claimed three superlative awards.

The team was chosen by the Times-Review sports department after taking all-district teams and coaches’ nominations into consideration.

Burleson finished the year with a 31-9 record and was the No. 1 seed in District 7-4A after a 13-1 district season.

The Lady Elks tied Granbury atop the standings but represented the top seed.

Burleson proceeded to defeat Waco University and Azle in the playoffs before falling to eventual regional semifinalist Aledo in three games at Haltom High School.

Sophomore Holly Milam, who stands 6-1, was named the county’s most valuable player after taking home the hitter of the year award in the district selections.

Milam said she made sacrifices at the start of this year to prepare for a better season in volleyball.

“I had to quit basketball this year because I wanted to get better in volleyball,” she said. “I’m really proud because I’m only a sophomore and I’ve been competing against a lot of seniors. It’s a good accomplishment and it shows I worked hard in the season.

“I just know I have to get better for the next year.”

Burleson Head Coach D’Anna Newton was named the county’s coach of the year after earning the same honor in the 7-4A selections.

It was Newton’s first year to coach Burleson volleyball.

“I think one thing that helped us was our chemistry as a team,” she said. “We had a lot of young players and with Holly and Alana [Hughes] and Abby [Seamster] on the outside, we really got along well.

“We played together as a team and that motivated us to go the furthest they’ve ever gone.”

Newton said the future is bright with Hughes and Milam both back next year as juniors and Seamster returning for her senior season.

“We’ve got them for a little longer,” she said. “It’s exciting to think about where we can go the next few years and it’s very exciting for me as a coach. “The expectations are going to be high next year and everyone will be out to beat us. I’m looking forward to getting started again.”

Hughes was named the county’s setter of the year. She received the same honor in the 7-4A selections.

The offensive players of the year were Grandview’s Brittany Tschoepe and Godley’s Anna Perez. Each received the accolade in their respective all-district selections.

Grandview won the District 15-2A title, but lost in the first round of the playoffs to Eustace. Godley finished in second place in District 10-2A and advanced to the regional finals where it lost to Jewett-Leon.

The defensive players of the year are Cleburne’s Lacy Stinebaugh and Grandview’s Melody Mayse. Stinebaugh was named the defensive player of the year in the 7-4A selections and Mayse was named 15-2A’s most valuable player.

Stinebaugh switched to a defensive specialist position after spending her first three years on varsity as Cleburne’s setter. Her prowess on the back row helped lead Cleburne to the second round of the playoffs after the Lady Jackets swept Waco Midway, a team which beat Cleburne in the first round last year.

The Lady Jackets lost to Aledo in the second round.

Alvarado’s Amber Chatham and Godley’s Tolli Wylie were named the county’s blockers of the year after each received the accolade in their respective all-district selections. Chatham is a junior and Wylie is a senior.

Grandview sophomore Harley Griffith is the county’s newcomer of the year. She received the same honor in the District 15-2A selections. Burleson Centennial’s Katie Rebrovich is the libero of the year. She received the award in the District 7-3A selections and helped lead the Lady Spartans to the playoffs in their first-ever varsity season.